Machines for determining the dry substance in various materials



Jan. 15, 1963 c. o. CLAESSON ET AL 3,073,152 MACHINES FOR DETERMINING THE DRY SUBSTANCE IN VARIOUS MATERIALS Filed May 12, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVI'NTORS cm 0LOF (IMF-330M HJALMHR H. HULTGREN Jan. 15, 1963 Filed May 12, 1959 FIG.2

C. O. CLAESSON ET AL MACHINES FOR DETERMINING THE DRY SUBSTANCE IN VARIOUS MATERIALS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q g; Q 4 2 mvsums CARLOLDF GLAESSON HJALMAR H. Hl/LTGREN Y w M fMw/gflwo Qti'ys.

Jan. 15, 1963 c. o. CLAESSON ET AL 3,073,152

MACHINES FOR DETERMINING THE DRY SUBSTANCE IN VARIOUS MATERIALS Filed May 12, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS CRRL OLOF CLHE53DN HJRLMAR H. HULTGKEN MMM/ {Me 4 M) c. o. CLAESSON ET AL 3,073,152 MACHINES FOR DETERMINING THE DRY SUBSTANCE IN VARIOUS MATERIALS Jan. 15, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 12, 1959 NVENT RS CARL OLOF GLAESSDN HJHLMAR H, HULTGR N Jan. 15, 1963 c. o. CLAESSON ET AL 3,073,152

MACHINES FOR DETERMINING THE DRY SUBSTANCE IN VARIOUS MATERIALS Filed May 12, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VE N TORS Carl Olaf C/aasson I-fia/mar H. Hulfgran WM 9= Baa/J8 ite States atent [ice 3,073,152 MACS FGR DETERMINING THE DRY SUEEaTANtIE 1N VARIQUS MATERIALS Carl Olaf Claesson, Wiad, Eldtomta, Sweden (Slavasta, Uppsala, Sweden), and Hjalmar Hilding Hultgren, Asvagen 9, Uttran, Sweden Filed May 12, 1959, Ser. No. 812,749 Claims priority, application Sweden May 17, 1958 13 (ll-aims. (Cl. 73-61) This invention relates to a machine for the gravimetric determination of the dry substance in various materials, e.g. milk. According to the invention the machine comprises a platform or station for receiving a large number of vessels containing the material, the dry substance of which is to be determined, the receiving station being of such a width that several vessels can be placed side by side in said station, an apparatus arranged after the receiving station for drying the material in said vessels, an apparatus arranged after the drying apparatus for individually weighing the vessels, and a continuous conveyor track for conveying the vessels from the receiving station and passing them through the drying apparatus and the weighing apparatus. The invention makes it possible quickly to effect a great number of dry substance determinations.

Further features of the invention and the advantages gained thereby will become apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment of the machine by way of example, which is especially intended for the determination of the dry substance in milk samples.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the machine as seen from the supply end, a number of details having been broken away for greater clarity.

'FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the machine as seen from the delivery end.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the machine.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the discharge end of the drying apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken upon section line 55 of FIGURE 3, and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus complete without the weighing apparatus. 7

In the drawings the cup-shaped shallow vessels containing the milk, the dry substance of which is to be determined, are designated 1. The vessels 1 are made from punched aluminium foil and provided with cotton filters to distribute the milk and to facilitate drying thereof by increasing the surface and preventing the formation of crusts.

The machine according to the invention comprises a platform or like station 3 for receiving a large number of vessels 1, an apparatus 4 for drying the material in the vessels 1, an apparatus for weighing said vessels, and a continuous conveyor track for conveying the vessels from the receiving station 3 through the drying apparatus 4- and the weighing apparatus.

The vessels are arranged in rows on a table 2 in the receiving station 3, which has longitudinally extending guide ribs for preventing lateral displacement of the vessels 1. The receiving station 3 has a stepwise or continuously operating driver 5 which feeds the vessels 1 from the table 2 to the drying apparatus 4.

The part of the conveyor track passing through the drying apparatus 4 consists of a conveyor belt 6. In a preferred embodiment the conveyor belt 6 is constituted by a number of spaced, endless, tightly wound coil springs, which makes for a good ventilation in the drying apparatus. The drying apparatus preferably is a drying chamber having a roof of perforated metal sheets.

Each row of vessels 1 is supported by two coil springs. The vessels are guided laterally in that the extreme coil springs and every third intermediate coil spring are raised by supporting wheels 7 which are mounted on a shaft 8. Alternatively, the raising of the guide coil springs can be provided in that the portions of the end cylinders 9, about which said coil springs run, have larger radii than those portions of said cylinders, about which the supporting coil springs run. As will appear from the drawing the coil spring conveyor belt 6 is driven over a V-rope transmission by a worm-gear electric motor 10.

The conveyor belt 6 terminates at a horizontal channel 15 which is at right angles to the belt.

The part of the conveyor track leading from the drying apparatus 4 to and away from the weighing apparatus is constituted by an inclined chute 17, 21 which is interrupted at one point to accommodate the scale pan 19 of the weighing apparatus. The scale pan 19 is surrounded by windows having passages for the chute portions 17, 21.

The inclined chute 17, 21, whose width is substantially equal to that of the vessels 1, extends from the drying apparatus 4 in the transverse direction of the conveyor belt 6, thus constituting a prolongation of the horizontal channel 15 arranged at the end of the conveyor belt 6.

The heat in the drying chamber is generated by tubes 11 for infrared radiation. The radiation tubes 11 are mounted above the conveyor belt 6 transversely thereof and extend across the entire effective width thereof. The radiation tubes 11 cooperate with reflectors 14 which are so placed and shaped that the radiation will vary longitudinally of the conveyor belt 6. Thus the radiation is evenly distributed across the conveyor belt, for which reason all samples or vessels 1 will be exposed to the same amount of radiation at their travel through the drying apparatus 4. This type of radiation, which varies longitudinally of the conveyor belt, thus being strongest beneath the tubes and weaker therebetween, 'will facilitate the drying operation, since at the lower temperatures the remaining liquid will be distributed in the filter so that the subsequent higher-temperature radiation will have an improved effect.

The radiation tubes 11 are arranged in such a way that the horizontal channel 15 arranged at the end of the conveyor belt 6 is also exposed to radiation, with the result that the vessels 1 in said channel 15 are prevented from taking up water again.

As will appear from the drawings, the radiation tubes 11 are mounted on a frame 12 which can be raised and lowered relative to the conveyor belt 6 by link arms 13 which are operable from outside.

The inclined chute portion 17 is provided ahead of the weighing apparatus with stop means 18 for the vessels 1 conveyed in said chute portion. In the embodiment illustrated said stop means is constituted by a horizontal chute portion. In another embodiment the stop means 18 may consist of two barriers arranged ahead of the weighing apparatus at the inclined chute portion 17, said barriers being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the vessels 1. The barriers are adapted to be moved alternately into and out of blocking position so that one vessel 1 at a time is supplied to the weighing apparatus.

Consequently, the vessels 1 are adapted to be transferred one after the other from the stop means 18 to the scale pan 19 in order to be weighed. The scale pan 19 cooperates with means 20 for tilting said scale pan to pro vide continued transport of the weighed vessels 1 in the portion 21 of the inclined chute extending from said scale pan. The tilting movement is to be effected only after the movement of the scale pan has been stopped. Therefore, means for stopping the weighing apparatus may be movement thereof.

pivot-Silwhich is mounted in the frame.

there are ten teeth. The tooth pitch naturally is equal 'to the diameter of the cups.

The racks 22 are guided on one hand bythe bottom of the platform 3 and on'the other by U-shaped rails 23 provided in the interior of the machine. The racks 22 cooperate with drive .wheels24 which are provided with a peripheral recess for guiding saidracksl-aterally. For

advancing the racks 22the drive Wheels24 are provided in. the-recesses with threepins*25 which are 'to-engage with the rack teeth. Thedrivewheels24 are" driven bya'belt transmission 26.

The return of the driver toinitial position takes place manually in connection with the raising thereoflthe racks 22 being disengaged from the drive Wheels 24-and their pins25.

The belt transmission'26 includes astep cone 27- which is mounted on theextensionof the'feed roll shaftand which by means of a belt is adapted to drivethe disk'28 on the shaft29 on whichthe drivewheels 24 are'disposed. The use of the highest step of the step cone 27 results in a continuous feed whereas the other-steps of the step cone 27 produce a stepwisefeed.

The radiation tubes .11' which are arranged atright angles to the direction of feedare"spaced 'such -distances apart anddisposed in such amanner relative'to the reflec- "tors 14'thatthe heat radiation will be greatest directly beneaththe tubes 11 and decrease up to a point -asseen in the direction oflfeed, midwaybetweentwotubes 11.

The varyingheating to whichthe' cups are thus-exposed givesan extremely favorable drying eifect.

The radiation tubes '11 are arranged in an upper frame 12 which is vertically adjustable relative to a lower'frame. .Raising and lowering of the upper frameiis' effectedby means of the link arms 13which are fixedlyv arranged on a Fixedly secured to the pivot 30 is one end of a link 31 which has'its other .end pivoted to one end of a link 32 the 'otherend of which is pivoted to the frame 12.

InFIG. 2 the means for tilting thescale pan 19 is a twoarmed lever one outer arm 40 of which isfor manual actuation, while the inner arm 41 is adapted to engage the scale pan 19 for tilting it. The two armsare laterally ofiset relative-to each other at their common fulcrum. By

. the action of a spring 42 the lever is normally held swung out of the path of the scale pan 19.

After the travel through the dryingapparatus 4 the first vessels 1 in each row are moved into the horizontal channel 15. The next vessels 1 are retained in their rows by .thecoil springs and the guidepins 16' provided in prolongation thereof. By this arrangement the vessels 1 in the horizontal channel can be transferred to the inclined 'chute portion 17 without the next following vessels 1 being laterally displaced. f The lateral movement ofthe vessels 1 to the inclined chute portion 17 can be effected either by hand or by means of a transverse feed means, e.g. a slide. When the first vessels 1 in.each row have been moved aside in the manner described, the conveyor belt 6 automatically delivers the following ones.

Should the delivered vessels 1 not have had time to'move aside, the

:following vessels 1 slip in the row of said vessels on the :supporting coil springs Without any disadvantages arising therefrom.

The vessels l with the cotton filters therein shall first travel through the machine fordetermination of the weight which may be marked on punched cards. The vessels 1 :are then again placed on the table 2 and supplied with a of the appendant claims.

- operations.

certain amount of the milk samples, which may be for instance 1 millilitre or 1 gram. The milk samples can advantageously be filled into the vessels 1 by means of a calibrated syringe. After the vessels 1 have passed the apparatus for drying and weighing the samples the second time, the dry substance content of the samples is calculated from the difference between the two Weighing The vessels 1 are discarded after use.

The speed of the conveyor belt 6 and the radiation in the d-rying apparatus iare of course balanced in such a way .thata complete'drying'of the samples isobtained during their travel through said. apparatus. The number of rows on the conveyor belt 6 as well as the length thereof and consequently'the number of radiation tubes 11 may of course be selected in such a Way that any desired capacity of the. drying apparatus 4 is obtained.

"While'the-invention has been described inthe fo-reging with reference to a preferred embodiment,:it is understood that'itis-notlimited to this very embodiment, asa plurality of modifications may be resorted to=within the scope *W e claim: 1 1. "A machine for the gravimetric determination of the an open bottom arranged after said receiving station for d-rying'the material in said vessels, conveyor belts of wire coils formoving said vessels through said drying apparatus, aweighingapparatus arranged after said drying apparatus for weighing the individual vessels, a conveyor track for conveying the vessels from said drying apparatus-in single line-through said weighingapparatus, said receiving station comprising a table to which said vessels are supplied, and an operating driverto transfer said vesselsfrom said table to saiddrying apparatus.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyor belts comprise a pluralityof spaced, endless, tightly wound coil springs.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said con- "veyor-track comprises a horizontal channel at'right angles to said conveyor belts at the termination thereof.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said drying apparatus comprises a drying chamber. having radiationtubes.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said radiation tubes are mounted above said conveyor belts transversely thereofand extend across the entire effective width of said conveyor belts.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein reflectors cooperate with said radiation tubes so that the radiation will vary longitudinally of said conveyor belts.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyor track comprises an inclined chute having aninterruption at one point to accommodate said weighing apparatus-and said chute leads from said drying apparatus to and away from said weighing apparatus.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein a scale pan is provided for the weighing apparatus which cooperates with means for tilting said scale pan to provide continued transport of the weighed vessels in. the portion of the inclined chute extending from said scale pan.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said inclined chute is provided ahead of the. weighing apparatus with stop means for the vessels conveyed therein.

10. A machine as set forth in claim 9 wherein said stop means consists of a horizontal chute portion.

11. A machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein a horizontal channel is arranged at the end of said conveyor belts and said inclined chute has a width substantially equal to that of each vessel and extends from said drying apparatus transversely of said conveyors as a prolongation of said' channel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,463,923 Nelson Aug. 7, 1923 6 Hall et a1. July 23, 1935 Hiller Nov. 13, 1951 Parnell Nov. 20-, 1951 Rourke Dec. 16, 1952 Campbell Dec. 23, 1952 Sargrove Dec. 29, 1953 Brabender et a1 June 7, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS France Apr. 11, 1951 

1. A MACHINE FOR THE GRAVIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF THE DRY SUBSTANCE IN VARIOUS MATERIALS, COMPRISING A STATION FOR RECEIVING A PLURALITY OF VESSELS CONTAINING THE MATERIAL, THE DRY SUBSTANCE OF WHICH IS TO BE DETERMINED, SAID RECEIVING STATION HAVING A WIDTH TO ACCOMMODATE A PLURALITY OF VESSELS PLACED SIDE BY SIDE, A DRYING APPARATUS HAVING AN OPEN BOTTOM ARRANGED AFTER SAID RECEIVING STATION FOR DRYING THE MATERIAL IN SAID VESSELS, CONVEYOR BELTS OF WIRE COILS FOR MOVING SAID VESSELS THROUGH SAID DRYING APPARATUS, A WEIGHING APPARATUS ARRANGED AFTER SAID DRYING APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING THE INDIVIDUAL VESSELS, A CONVEYOR TRACK FOR CONVEYING THE VESSELS FROM SAID DRYING APPARATUS IN SINGLE LINE THROUGH SAID WEIGHING APPARATUS, SAID RECEIVING STATION COMPRISING A TABLE TO WHICH SAID VESSELS ARE SUPPLIED, AND AN OPERATING DRIVER TO TRANSFER SAID VESSELS FROM SAID TABLE TO SAID DRYING APPARATUS. 